Hello,
Enjoyed and learned a lot by reading the post here so thought I'd introduce myself.
First of all I should probably tell you I am blind and rather new to Home Automation. I use it as an Assistive Technology in my home to make my home more accessable. Currently I am running HAL Deluxe by Automated Living. I chose HAL because of it's better quality Voice Recognition, it's HALi Interface and it's telephone capabilities which include voice mail, caller id announcement and the ability to interact with HAL via any home phone.
As for external programs I am interfacing via the HALi. Currently I am running Jim Lipsit's Tell Me application which seems to give HAL a bit more personality as well as improved functionality. I have also written an MS-Access database to help me identify items around my home. The database is rough and not something anyone else could really benefit from but I am working on a cleaner more efficient version that othes who are blind or visually impaired may find useful when it is complete.
In the future I hope to setup a Linux system and run additional Home Automation applications there that interface and play nice with HAL. I hope to expand my HA system to also include Security, HVAC control and a few more accssability features.
While I am certainly no HA expert, if alongthe way I am able to assist someone in anyway I am glad to do so. If I don't know the answer I can at least help find it or someone who does know. So feel free to contact me and ask what you will.
Thanks,
Stan
Enjoyed and learned a lot by reading the post here so thought I'd introduce myself.
First of all I should probably tell you I am blind and rather new to Home Automation. I use it as an Assistive Technology in my home to make my home more accessable. Currently I am running HAL Deluxe by Automated Living. I chose HAL because of it's better quality Voice Recognition, it's HALi Interface and it's telephone capabilities which include voice mail, caller id announcement and the ability to interact with HAL via any home phone.
As for external programs I am interfacing via the HALi. Currently I am running Jim Lipsit's Tell Me application which seems to give HAL a bit more personality as well as improved functionality. I have also written an MS-Access database to help me identify items around my home. The database is rough and not something anyone else could really benefit from but I am working on a cleaner more efficient version that othes who are blind or visually impaired may find useful when it is complete.
In the future I hope to setup a Linux system and run additional Home Automation applications there that interface and play nice with HAL. I hope to expand my HA system to also include Security, HVAC control and a few more accssability features.
While I am certainly no HA expert, if alongthe way I am able to assist someone in anyway I am glad to do so. If I don't know the answer I can at least help find it or someone who does know. So feel free to contact me and ask what you will.
Thanks,
Stan
